5 Money Lessons Every New Graduate Needs to Know

Written by: Adam Levin - former Director New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs; founder of Credit.com and Identity Theft 911

Yes my friends, it's that time of year again. No, not allergy season -- graduation. That seminal moment in our lives when, in ceremonies of varying degrees of pomp and circumstance, our elders pass on the wisdom of the ages to those of us who are evolving from the shelter of the ivory tower to the stark reality of the "real world."

Tens of thousands of graduates will likely hear that Emerson nugget "Hitch your wagon to a star," (currently lurking in countless commencement addresses across the land). Others will doubtless hear the Dr. Seuss classic, "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."

Commencement speakers throughout the land face the Herculean task of painting a picture of opportunity and challenge that is engaging, thought-provoking and reasonably optimistic while trying not to terrify or bore.

The good news: this is not a graduation speech. Not one Hallmark card verse (well, maybe one) in this piece. I leave that to the thousands of wizened elders who are feverishly working on their content and delivery of "life in the real world" barnburners at this very moment.

That said, if any prospective commencement speakers are reading, you might consider including some practical advice for the new grads, that just might make their lives easier for the next few years... (continue reading the full article here)